Song lyrics - Frijolero, by Molotov

Question

Hi guys,

So I've just started listening to some Spanish music, well, one band in particular, well, only one band, but anyway, I'd like some help translating some lyrics. I tried it myself, but couldn't quite understand it, google wasn't my friend, so I'm hoping someone here will be able to help. The lyrics to the first verse go as follows;

Yo ya estoy hasta la madre, de que me pongan sombrero, escucha entonces cuando digo, no me llames frijolero.

A "," indicates where the line ends and where there is a pause in the singing.

If these lyrics make no sense, then it might be a problem of the site I found them on not having them right. If it helps, the song is called Frijolero, it's by Molotov.

As always, thanks in advance,

Ryan.

I think my kids might get into Spanish music hearing this band.I like it too :) - galsally, Oct 13, 2010

Answer 1

Basically they are fed up with peoples stereotypical image of Mexicans!

Estoy hasta la madre- I'm fed up / Que me pongan sombrero- that they put a sombrero on me (stereotype me)/ Escucha entonces cuando digo- therefore listen when I tell you / No me llames frijolero- don't call me a beaner (a derogatory name for a Mexican)

Answer 2

one of the point´s to keep in mind if you´re going to listen Molotov is that they have good music but their Spanish is far from standard. it´s borderline Spanish, with strong influence from American culture, so you will always find a mixture of Mexican slang, cheap coinages from English, poor rhymes (power, madre) and recurrent idiomatic expressions.

Like in

gimme gimme gimme gimme todo el poder

so I can come around to joder

So, if you like Molotov, don´t expect to learn too much Spanish

You will find great lyrics with this band, though

In the same vein, and even though I don't particularly like his music, you won't find many bands or artists with lyrics as complex as Joaquín Sabina's. He mixes poetry, refined vocabulary, popular culture and street slang in a very particular way. - bill1111, Oct 13, 2010

well, I like Sabina. I agree with you but I find it very hard to relate his work with Molotov´s limited style and vocabulary. Take, ´Peces de ciudad¨, for example. - mediterrunio, Oct 13, 2010

I love Sabina. "La del pirata cojo" also can be interenting. Lately, I also like Fito's lyrics. - cogumela, Oct 13, 2010

Answer 3

I'm tired,

that they put me hat,

then listen what I say,

don't call me frijolero.

To put hat to someone= "to label" to someone

Frijolero= who sells beans

"i'm tired".. hehe, that's a politically correct way of translating that ;p - bill1111, Oct 13, 2010

Answer 4

Hi Ryan,

I don't know Molotov but the tone of voice of the song gives me the impression that the first verse is intentional "bad Spanish" since the song is about racial issues.

escucha entonces cuando digo, no me llames frijolero.

When I look at the rest of the lyrics, I would translate this as "Now listen when I say don't (you) call me (a) beaner.

Yo ya estoy hasta la madre, de que me pongan sombrero

I found this explanation on another forum:

I'm really fed up with them taking advantage of me

Hope this helps!

Saludos, Chica

Intentional bad Spanish? It is definitely Mexican Spanish like it or not. - gabacholoco, Oct 13, 2010

Just to set the record straight, my remark wasn't meant to be a derogatory remark... I meant "intentionally bad" as in spoken by someone who hardly knows any Spanish. Mediterrunio has worded it much better than me... - chicasabrosa, Oct 14, 2010